Monsoon Audiophile

Monday, October 11, 2010

If it hasn't happened to you yet, trust me, it will. Someday, at a time you least expect it. your beloved Monsoons will stop functioning.

Now, before you go and toss them, let's examine some of the more common failure points that you might experience, and some methods of repair that we can employ to keep your Monsoons up and running for years to come. I should also note that while I am specifically addressing the MH-505 speaker set, much of what follows applies to any and all Monsoon multimedia speaker sets.

Sub-woofer failure.

The single most common failure point of the MH-505s is the Sub-woofer. For reasons that I haven't yet seen an adequate explanation for, the construction of the sub-woofer is abysmally bad. Even when compared against inexpensive speaker sets from other manufacturers it just doesn't measure up. The speaker cone itself is actually good (VERY large magnet on that baby) but the power and control systems on the board are just plain bad.

I would personally be amazed to see a fully functional Monsoon sub-woofer. I suspect the only way anyone might see one at this point would be from an unboxed set discovered at the back of an electronics warehouse somewhere.

So what do you do when your Sub is dead or dying? At this point it is usually wise to take a step back and get some perspective on the situation. As I noted in my earlier review of the MH-505s, the real value in this speaker set is NOT the sub-woofer, but the flat panel surround speakers. So we want to keep these functional, even if it means we have to give up other parts. Trust me when I tell you this: The great sound these speakers have is NOT due to anything in the sub-woofer, it's the speakers alone that are giving you that great sound.

So, what do we need to get the speakers going again if the Sub is dead? Simple; We replace it. Now, you cannot get another Monsoon sub-woofer and frankly you don't want one. You need to find another, similar sub-woofer that will adequately replace the Monsoon one. How do we do this? We simply buy ANOTHER 5.1 speaker system and harvest the sub-woofer and controller from it and attach our existing speakers to it.

This is where it can get tricky fast. Not only do you have to ensure that the replacement sub-woofer has the correct connectors (both number and type) on it, but it's output has to be in the proper power band for the Monsoon speakers or you will either end up severely under driving them or you (even worse) will overpower and damage/destroy them.

So what is the current wattage of the existing MH-505 sub-woofer? If you refer back to my previous article, you will see the power rating as follows:

Amplifier power: 120 Wmax 85Wrms

The rating that we are really interested in the the RMS (Root Mean Square) rating, which is 85W for the MH-505s. Now, this does NOT mean that each individual satellite speak runs on 85 watts of power! The Monsoon PFTs actually use about 8 watts rms each, with the remaining 53 split between the center channel (13 watts) and the sub-woofer (40 watts). What we need to do is look for a replacement system that puts out similar power levels for the speakers and still has a respectable sub-woofer punch.

Right now there aren't many players left in the 5.1 PC speaker arena as more and more people are moving to laptops for their primary systems. However there are a few players left, and they make a couple systems that land right in the power band we need. (Although none are a perfect match.)

For right now I think the best option for harvesting a replacement sub-woofer are the Logitech X-540 speakers. As a whole this system puts out a bit less than the original Monsoon system with 7.4 watts RMS into each of the 4 satellite speakers, 15.2 watts center channel, and 25 watts into the sub-woofer. But of all the available systems it puts out the most power without going over the target number. This system also uses a separate control pot much like the MH-505's do. Some of the other mid-range 5.1 systems have the control pod merged into one of the speakers, which is not ideal.

The X-540's are currently running at a price point well under $100 USD and are carried by several major store chains including online computer sales powerhouse Newegg.com.

Once you have your X-540's home, unbox the power system, sub-woofer and control pot and leave the other 5 speakers in the box. (Or use them for other projects.) Then just remove your old Monsoon sub-woofer and control pot and replace them with the Logitech ones and voila! You are ready to rock and roll!

Damaged/Malfunctioning Control Pot

One of the other VERY common problems is the control pot. For reasons I don't understand Monsoon chose to use an 8 pin mini-DIN connector for the MH-505s. The issues with the 8 pin mini-DIN are the same as those in an old keyboard/mouse PS2 connector; Poor grounding and a weak connection point.

As such the DIN connector often develops problems entirely separate from the sub-woofer even if the sub-woofer is still functioning normally. Often it is simply the internal connections in the connector head that are weak, and replacing the connector head will fix these issues. Here follows basic info on the 8 pin mini-DIN connector:

Looking at the pin connector end-on with the two lone connectors at the bottom we see the following arrangement :

The pinout is as follows, starting at top left:

6 7 83 4 51 2

(NOTE: the connector is technically an 8 pin Mini-DIN. However there is a 9th "pin" which is the outer metal ring.)

The wires are coded as follows:

1)Black2)White3)Blue4)Green5)Yellow6)Orange7)Red8)Brown9)Dark Grey

You can purchase replacement 8 pin mini-din connectors online or at a local electronics parts supplier, although be aware it may be difficult to find.

Once you have your replacement connector, cut off the connector head from the control pot and strip the primary casing. Then identify and strip the appropriate wires and solder or crimp on the connections (depending on the connector type you bought) in the appropriate arrangement.

Also you can buy cables with the connector already on them. You then just have to splice the wires together and with a little luck and trial and error you should be able to get the pot working again.

Separated PFT Membrane.

Although less common, occasionally one or more of the PFT speaker membranes will separate from the rest of the speaker assembly causing either buzzing/unwanted sound or no sound at all. At this point you have two choices; You can either search craigslist and ebay for a replacement PFT speaker, or you can repair your PFT! The instructions to repair the PFT are rather involved and NOT for the faint-of-heart, but it CAN be done!

I should note that the instructions below are actually for the 2.1 Monsoon systems with exposed connectors. The MH-505s have no exposed connector rivets or screws, you have to pop the front cover off first to gain access to them.

Here is a post from ATPM.com by "shmoke" with an excellent step-by-step on repairing your PFT.(With minor spelling and grammatical corrections by myself.)

...I knew that I couldn't be the only one with this buzzing problem with these Monsoons. But I do appear to be the only person to find and repair the cause of the noise, and share my results.

It was so bad that I was committed to either repair them or throw them away. It was just as I described in my previous post: a raspy, crunchy buzz that follows the mid-range material. It was worse at higher volumes and with certain voices and instruments, but was basically present all time to some degree. It only appeared in the right speaker and stayed with that speaker no matter which channel it was hooked up to - eliminating any fault with the electronics or volume control puck.

I tore straight into the heart of the speaker without fear. I used a large drill (1/4") to mill the rivets down on the wedged side, not all the way through, just enough to release the head. I removed the stand by drilling those rivets too so that I was just holding the flat panel with the cord dangling. I remember that those rivets were larger than the others and tougher to drill. This releases the stand and rear cover from the sandwich and gives you access to the rear of the panel, and you can begin drilling all the small brass rivets that hold it all together.

Be careful after you've milled all the brass rivets and begin to push them out because when you get down to the last ones the sandwich is going to try to fly apart with great force and reorient itself quickly to relieve magnetic tension. It could damage the membrane if you don't control this. If you have a second set of helping hands you'll be more prepared than I was.

The membrane is one with the rear panel and the front panel can be completely removed and inspected for the plating damage that causes the buzz. But the rear panel is the more likely culprit since the front magnets are covered with a thin black felt material and don't have direct contact with the membrane like the rear magnets do.

So you've decided to peel the membrane off? Okay. Start at the bottom and peel it off carefully taking great care to keep from stretching or tearing the thin plastic. Heat may help but I didn't use any. If you screw up here just throw it in the trash and check eBay for a replacement.

Yes it is like Mylar, just not as strong. This membrane is very fragile and is embossed with a wavy ribbon pattern that looks like it plays some role in the sound of the speaker.

Peel that off and lay it carefully aside. The wiring attaches to the membrane at the bottom. Now you're holding the rear array and the magnet damage (if you have any) should be clearly visible. In my case it was plating on the magnets that was chipping and peeling and rubbing the membrane. I cleaned off the bad plating with a micro-screwdriver and re-assembled.

I reapplied the membrane by placing wide, glossy scotch tape in long strips around the four sides of the membrane with a half-inch reveal. I placed the membrane on the rear array and evenly stretched the tape over the sides of the steel panel until the membrane was as tight as a snare drum.

I made sure that the membrane felt and sounded approximately as it did before I removed it. I must have done it right because the rebuilt driver sounds almost better than the other one!

I reassembled the sandwich with small socket cap bolts and nuts. I think I used 4-40 or 5-40 x 1/4" bolts and nuts to replace the small rivets and 10-32 x 3/8" bolts and nuts to re-attach the stand.

I couldn't be happier with the results. I've still got my monsoons and I'm back in business!

Before you dive in, you need to make darn sure that the buzz is coming from the driver and not from the electronics. If you swap the speakers between the left and right amplifier jacks, does the noise stay with the speaker in question?

The membrane is finer than Mylar and is quite fragile. There is a convoluted texture embossed into the ribbon that looks like it contributes to the sound of the speaker. The wiring is soldered to pads on the membrane at the bottom of the driver near the stand.

The stand comes off first before the rear grill can be removed. You have to take the stand apart far enough to un-tread the wire from the base before you begin. Pry off the front grill and drill the rivets that attach the stand to the driver. With the stand, the plastic trim and the grills removed, you are holding the small, thin sandwich and the surgery can begin.

Drill all of the small brass rivets from the back side (the wedged side) and push them out through the front to remove. I used a 1/4" drill bit and I just milled down the rivets just enough that they could be pushed through the holes.

Take extra care here. When the last few rivets are popped out, the sandwich is going to try to fly apart in your hands and reorient themselves quickly to relieve magnetic tension between the front and rear arrays. If this event is not controlled, the membrane can be damaged and there will be no need to continue.

Inspect the front array. There is a black felt covering over the magnets on the front array so it's doubtful that the front magnets are the source of the buzzing. If there's nothing wrong with the front array, you're probably going to wind up peeling the membrane off to access the rear magnets.

Peel the membrane very slowly starting from the bottom, near the speaker wires, taking great care to keep from stretching or tearing the delicate plastic. Heat may help but I didn't use any. Set the membrane aside in a safe place.

Now you're looking at the rear magnet array and the damage should be very obvious. In my case, the plating on the magnets was cracked and peeling off. The plating was thick enough to interfere with the membrane and cause the buzzing at certain frequencies and volume levels. I picked the loose plating off with a micro screwdriver and cleaned up the array with compressed air.

Now for reassembly. Put four lengths of wide, glossy scotch tape around the perimeter of the membrane with a half-inch reveal and lay the membrane over the rear array, taking care to match the holes in the membrane with those in the rear array. Pull the tape over the edges, starting with the top and bottom. Then evenly stretch and secure the membrane across the sides.

As you apply the membrane, do your best to match the original tension and feel to maintain the proper voice of the driver. If you have a wrinkle or a sag, it will surely impact the sound. I got mine right on the first try, and it sounds almost better than the other driver.

Reassemble the sandwich with 4-40 or 5-40 x 1/4 or 5/16 inch length, socket cap bolts and nuts. Reattach the stand and rear grill with 10-32 x 3/8 or 1/2 inch length, socket cap bolts and nuts. Some trimming of the plastic frame will be necessary to clear the extra size of bolts instead of rivets.

If you've done it right...you'll be back in business!

And there you have it, full instructions on repairing a PFT. As always, follow instructions "At Your Own Risk". I cannot be held responsible if your fumblefinger the instructions and destroy your PFT in the process.

Broken Wires

This is probably the cheapest and easiest fix of all, however it can be tricky. If your wire is broken well down the cord then just grab some wire crimp connectors from your local hardware/electronics store and attach them, done.

If the break is near the speaker or the wires are pulled out of the speaker you have a trickier problem on your hands. If you follow the instructions above you will find how to open the speakers up. Once inside determine if there is any wire left inside or if it has been pulled free of the speaker entirely. If there is any wire left attempt the same repair as you would with a normal cord break. If however the wire is entirely torn free there is no repair possible as the wire is attached directly to the delicate PFT membrane and the tearing has likely destroyed it. If this is what has happened that speaker is dead, start searching ebay for another. (If anyone has a repair option for this type of damage please let me know and I will amend this post.)

That covers most of the common repairs that you may have to perform on your MH-505s. If anyone has anything else to add that may make this article more complete, please feel free to comment or email me and I will update as needed.

Amazing that so much sound could be bought for so little money. My own set was on sale for $150.00 US when I bought them. What a deal!

Of course, the key to this system was not the (admittedly underpowered) sub-woofer, but the absolutely fantastic PFT speakers that made up the right and left front and rear channels. These speakers are capable of such utterly perfect audio imagery that they rival speakers that cost as much as 10 times more. the MH-505's are truly the ultimate "audiophile" multimedia 5.1 surround sound system.

At the time of release, these speakers were given thorough reviews by most of the major online review sites of the day. Many of these reviews are still up and available today. Here are a few links:

Extreme tech review *** This is a particularly good review that even includes cross-section graphics of the Flat Panel speakers. I highly recommend this review.***

Of course, like all of the Monsoon multimedia systems, the Achilles Heel of the MH-505's is that horrific sub-woofer. Specifically, the circuit board and the utterly cheap components that it is made of. The speaker cone itself is actually quite good. However it is driven by a totally inadequate control system.

Sadly, due to the rather murky way in which Monsoon perished there is little evidence available to tell us exactly why such a poor control board was paired with such fantastic speakers. Most of the people I have spoken to simply pin it on cost control.

Essentially, to hit that fantastic price point something had to be sacrificed. Since the Flat panel speakers, being the centerpiece of the system, couldn't be cut, something else had to give. That was (apparently) the control system embedded into the sub-woofer.

The primary failure point of these control systems was the connection to the "control pot". The 9 pin DIN connectors that were used were of such inferior quality that they often developed shorts within a year or two of ownership. Alternately, problems would develop elsewhere on the board itself, causing low-frequency buzzing and humming in the sub-woofer. (My own sub-woofer suffered this fate.)

But the satellite speakers, those wonderful, wonderful PFT speakers. They are like gold. If you have a set, hold onto them!

The MH-505's appear to have been the last set of speakers designed by Sonigistics before they were bought out by Level 9 sound, and then eventually by Eastech. Once bought out, no more 5.1 systems were designed, (Although the 4.1 surround MM-2000's were released later at a much higher price point.) and the design and marketing focus shifted to the Automotive sound department.

So raise a toast to the great swan song of Monsoon Multimedia, the glorious MH-505 5.1 surround sound speaker system.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

After a VERY long hiatus during which I changed jobs twice and completed a very large personal project I am finally able to take a bit of time and get back to the project of working on and posting on this blog. I'm going to do my level best to try and maintain it a bit more. Sadly, the Blogger format really isn't the best choice for something like this, but since there isn't a free Forum solution available out there. this will have to do.

The thread over at ATPM continues to grow and grow, a good TEN YEARS after the original post. If that isn't a testament to the enduring popularity of the Monsoon Multimedia speakers then I don't know what is!

For those who either are still holding onto or have recently picked up a set of Monsoon speakers, I am going to attempt to be a resource for you. In the coming months I will be putting up feature articles on each of the various Monsoon speaker systems, with information sourced from all over the internet. Thanks to the magic of the Wayback Machine, I hope to be able to bring you as much information as possible about these great speakers.

Also, when possible, I will be including technical data about the speakers, including instructions on how to repair and service your Monsoons to keep them sounding great for years.